“I like to try different types of shows, bring the audience different types of things. I just want them to trust they’re going to get a good product,” said Laydier. “You might like some better than others but still, you’re going to get an experience … going to the theatre and seeing shows you would probably never see unless you went to New York.

Newsies tells the story of the real-life newsboys’ strike of 1899 in New York City, with a side plot following the budding relationship between Jake Kelly (Josh Richardson) and reporter Katherine Plumber (Tianna Ferlizza). The Soundstage production demands a lot of the actors: singing and energetic dancing, fight scenes and helping adjust the flexible stage set up, which incorporates scaffolding.

“It’s like cardio. It’s a lot of work. It’s very active and that will come out and the audience will appreciate that,” said Nathan Heiberg, who plays the part of Davey in the production.

“It takes a lot of rehearsal to build the stamina,” said Ashley Surowski, who plays the part of Medda Larkin. She added that for rehearsals of the Broadway production, actors are said to have practiced their songs while on a treadmill.

Surowski said it’s a privilege to be taking on a role in the production, which played for 1,004 performances from 2012 to 2014 on Broadway before heading out on tour. “It’s also a bit intimidating,” said Heiberg.

“They do so well on Broadway and if we can match even half of that in our own way.”

Finding the right cast for an active production like Newsies, Leydier said, is a challenge, but that’s nothing unusual.

“I think it’s a challenge every year, every show is so unique. That’s kind of the beauty of what I do because I love theatre. Every show is a new day, and you start from scratch, and they all have their own unique challenges.

“There is choreography in front of the stage and there is choreography behind the stage. Some people have a lot of costume changes … we’ve got everything. They get quite an experience,” said Leydier, adding that applies for the lighting, sound and stage crews too. “Everybody gets pushed. And I think that’s why from year to year they stick with it. It’s not like ‘same old, same old.’ Everybody gets, in their areas, challenged and I think people like that. I think people want to keep learning.”

The show is choreographed by Eve Noonan, with costumes by Kerry Younie.